Velcroman1 writes: Dedicated machines like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 currently rule the gaming world. But they may be the last of their kind. Evolving consumer demand, falling prices, and smartphones that play a whole lot more than Brickbreaker threaten to completely change how consumers play games at home and on the go.

“I actually think consoles are a thing of the past,” avid gamer Mark Ormond said. He confessed to playing more games on his iPhone these days than on his Wii or Xbox 360.

As non-traditional gaming platforms expand, can Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft keep doing business as usual? Do consoles even have a place in the future? Not in the traditional sense, says outspoken gaming analyst Michael Pachter. “Gaming will move to the cloud,” he said. And that’s a body blow for console makers, who make money on not only their own games, but hardware sales and licensing fees.